# Draining Battery **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** caravan, dodge\ **Created:** [January 22, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840 "2013-01-22T01:45:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Battery\_babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Battery\_babe](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Battery_babe)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840/1 "2013-01-22T01:45:39Z")
I have an 03 Dodge Caravan with 45,000 miles and a battery that is a year old this month. The battery drains rapidly. Even if I use a maintenance charger now it doesn’t guarantee the car will start because recharging doesn’t get the amps up to 8. The dealer and several private mechanics cannot find the cause. All systems are working. Does anyone have any suggestions ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840/2 "2013-01-22T02:39:56Z")
You may have a bad battery. Sometimes it just happens, they develop an internal short. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840/3 "2013-01-22T02:49:18Z")
I think the clue is 45000 miles in 10 years, if you live on the rust belt and drive that little you will have heavy corrosion at all power and ground connections. Also, no “maintenance” charger will charge at 8 amps. They would be 1 or 2 amps at most You need your battery and charging system checked out. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840/4 "2013-01-22T02:56:34Z")
This may be helpful to find the drain. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840/5 "2013-01-22T03:05:14Z")
_ **" This may be helpful to find the drain. "** _ What ? The photo of the dog or the tool set ? _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840/6 "2013-01-22T03:35:42Z")
Sorry, dang interweb, apologies. > **[How to Stop Car Battery Drains](https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a5859/how-to-stop-car-battery-drains/)** > > There are plenty of energy-robbing devices on your car that are supposed to go to sleep when it's parked, and sometimes, not all of them go to sleep. Here's how to give them a tranquilizer. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/draining-battery/76840/7 "2013-01-22T03:47:01Z")
That is an excellent article. I can only add that this is the way I check for a draw and it works for me over 90% of the time.